Comerica Park

Being just a mile from one of the most historical and well known stadiums in sports, it was hard for many fans to picture the Detroit Tigers playing anywhere else other than at Tiger Stadium. But in 2000, that changed when Comerica Park opened. With Tiger Stadium showing its age, the Tigers began lobbing for a new ballpark in the mid 1990s. Following other ballparks that were built in the 1990’s, the Tigers new ballpark was built of mainly steel and concrete, with a brick exterior. Constructed in downtown Detroit, construction began on October 29, 1997. 

For the first time in over 100 years, opening day baseball was played at a different location other than at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. Around 40,637 fans filled Comerica Park on opening day, April 11, 2000. Located in downtown Detroit, Comerica Park is among several other prominent buildings including Ford Field home of the Detroit Lions and the Fox Theater. Many parking garages and parking lots are in the surrounding area and fans can easily get to Comerica Park. As one approaches the ballpark, fans see the brick exterior, massive light towers, and defiantly cannot miss the enormous tigers sculptures at many of the entrances. Once inside the ballpark, fans are on the main concourse as the field is 25 feet below street level.

Consisting of three levels, no seat at Comerica Park is obstructed. Nearly all of the seats have an excellent view of downtown Detroit. The main part of the three tier grandstand extends from behind home plate to the left and right field foul poles. There is a gap in the upper deck along the first base side. Fans can walk along the main concourse of the ballpark without losing there view of the playing field. Beyond the outfield wall are the bullpens that are located behind the right field wall. In straight away dead centerfield are several fountains that produce liquid fireworks, when a homerun is hit. Located along the left-centerfield wall are five statues of Tiger Hall of Famer's, including Ty Cobb. A huge 202 ft. wide by 147 ft. high scoreboard sits behind one level of seats in left field. Besides watching the Tigers game, there are many amenities at Comerica Park. They include a ferris wheel, a merry-go-round or just taking some time to stroll around the ballpark to check out the different view from various sections.

Ground Rules:

• Foul poles and the screens attached are outside the playing field.

• A batted ball striking the facing or any part of the upper stands in fair territory and bouncing back onto the field is a home run.

• Fly balls that strike lights underneath the upper stands from right field to centerfield in fair territory and bounce back onto the field are home runs.

• Balls striking the yellow line of the flagpole or below it and caroming into stands count for two bases.

• Balls striking the yellow line of the flagpole or below it and bouncing back onto the field are in play.

• Balls striking above the yellow line on the flagpole: home run.

• A fair bounding ball going onto the roof of either bullpen dugout counts for two bases.

• A ball going through or sticking in the screen on fair ground is two bases.

• A pitched ball sticking or remaining on the backstop screen is one base, while a thrown ball doing the same is two bases.